Stereophonics fans left ‘sleeping in lobby’ at £200-a-night 'Alcatraz' hotel after check-in chaos

STEREOPHONICS fans were left queueing for hours and even asking to sleep in the lobby at their £200-a-night hotel during check-in chaos.

Guests likened the "carnage" at The Grand Hotel Scarborough to Alcatraz as arguments broke out and staff reportedly threatened to call the police on customers.

Guests had been queuing since 4pm on Wednesday when check in was allowed, with some only getting into their rooms after midnight, Yorkshire Live reports.

Some had splashed out £200 on their bookings and were hoping to stay at the hotel after watching the Hurry Up and Wait hitmakers at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

But some simply turned home and left.

I feel like it's Fawlty Towers crossed with Benidorm crossed with Alcatraz.

One woman said: "I've never known anything so bad in my life. I've stayed in some grotty places but nothing like this.

"I feel like it's Fawlty Towers crossed with Benidorm crossed with Alcatraz."

Her friend responded: "You probably get treated better in Alcatraz."

One couple from Cumbria had driven four hours earlier to stay at the hotel but drove straight to the gig venue when they saw the hotel queue snaking around the lobby.

When they finally got to their room they found two people were already in there and were forced to wait another half an hour to get a different room.

Checking in close to midnight, the woman said "this is a car crash" to which the man replied that "car crashes are better than this".

Another woman described the hotel as "f***ing s**t", to which the manager behind the desk said: "If you want us to cancel you're booking we can" and threatened to evict her for swearing.

'APALLING'

A different member of staff said that swearing was "abuse" to which one customer said: "Keeping us waiting for hours on end is abuse of customers".

People queued into the night and there was shouting in the lobby from Roz Cartwright, who said: "Where are we supposed to sleep?"

Ms Cartwright had driven up from Sheffield with her partner for the gig as well and paid £200 for the room.

When they got to the check in desk they had been told that "the systems were down" and they couldn't find a room.

When she raised her voice, a hotel worker threatened to call the police but there was no protest from staff when she said she'd sleep on the lobby sofa.

"This is appalling," she said. "You don't pay £200 to go to the check in to be told if you complain they're going to have me arrested and removed.

The whole place should be closed down.

"All I'm trying to do is do is go to sleep. I've said I'll stay on the sofa now. I'm just so exhausted."

She said she just wanted any room so she could go to sleep, as it had now gone past midnight.

"If you have 50 keys left and 20 people standing in the queue that have booked then give them a key. Just give us a room.

"It's my first time in Scarborough. I'm never coming back."

She added: "We went to the gig and had a great time and then come back to the hotel and it's carnage."

Ms Cartwright's partner was eventually able to get the couple a room and as they went to their room he said: "The whole place should be closed down."

It comes a month after a newlywed couple were forced to give up their honeymoon after waiting hours to check in.

A dad also spent more than 12 hours trying to check in at the start of June, before giving up and driving more than 130 miles home.

The Sun has approached The Grand Hotel Scarborough for comment.

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